The Digital Nomad Surfer’s Dream
Working remotely and surfing every day sounds like THE DREAM doesn’t it? Imagine surfing whenever you want, planning your meetings and work schedule around the tides and swells while living and travelling in tropical paradises.
As with any perfect picture, there’s a fine balance to maintain in order to keep it sustainable. This is why we have created this piece for YOU – the aspiring digital nomad surfer – in order to help you find balance between surfing and working, and to live the life you have dreamt of living!
Surf and Work Lifestyle Flexibility
One of the great lures of a digital nomad lifestyle is the freedom and flexibility that it brings. Working remotely allows you to craft your own way through the day, and tailor it to align with the tide, swell, and wind. It allows you to prioritise life, which is a rare luxury to have.
There are also ways in which you can optimise this flexibility and utilise it to make the most out of your work days and your surfing expeditions.
Tips to leverage flexibility as a digital nomad surfer:
Early morning sessions: Dawn patrolling and hitting the waves first thing in the morning when the conditions are most often ideal (usually less windy and less crowded) allows you to focus on work afterwards because you’ve already gotten your surf fix for the day! Getting some saltwater and sun in the morning will also help you begin work with a fresh mind and a satisfied adrenaline pump!
Surf swell planning: Using apps like Surfline and Windy to track swell forecasts and surf conditions will help immensely with planning work breaks in advance, and aligning them with the best surf conditions possible!
Using work blocks: Dividing your day into focused work sprints can also be a useful way to incorporate midday surfs. For example, you could work for 2-3 hours in the morning, take a surf break, and then return to your laptop for an afternoon meeting.
Embracing Productivity Hacks as a Digital Nomad
With flexibility and freedom comes excitement and a high possibility of getting whisked away into the sweetness of sun, salt, and sand – all day, every day. This is where productivity hacks come in. We understand that sometimes work can feel slow and draining, especially when you’d rather be out surfing. This is why maximising productivity when we do get to sit down and work is key to spending more time in the water!
Nomad productivity hacks:
Having a designated workspace: Whether this is a section of your house, a cafe with good Wi-Fi, or a co-working space, having a specific place where your mind switches to work mode is key to increasing focus, decreasing distractions, and completing tasks more efficiently.
The Pomodoro Technique: It can also be beneficial to try new productivity hacks. If you haven’t already, give this one a go! It involves working in 25-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks where you can get up, stretch, or go outside. This technique can help you stay focused by utilising quick mental resets and reducing work burnout.
Leveraging Technology for a Digital Nomad Surf Life
Aside from the obvious need for fast and speedy Wi-Fi and a well-working laptop, there are other tech tools that can make your life easier as a digital nomad surfer.
Top 2 technology tips for remote work:
Project management tools: Platforms such as Trello, Asana, or Notion can help organise tasks and deadlines if you’re working in a team. These tools are your BFFs when balancing work time and surf time.
Offline access: Sometimes, you are travelling in remote surf locations where the Wi-Fi can be inconsistent and unreliable. Here, it is important to download essential documents and files to have offline access to, in the case of connectivity issues.
Waves and Wifi
Speaking of connectivity issues, ensuring a reliable internet connection is something quite essential for digital nomad work, and is not something negotiable when being professional and attending online meetings. So what are some ways that you can prepare for this?
Mitigate connectivity issues:
Portable hotspots: Investing in a portable hotspot may serve as a lifesaver when Wi-Fi is down. For example, popular surf destinations in Indonesia are often extremely remote. Having your own portable hotspot is key when travelling to these places as they can offer an alternative source of Wi-Fi by working as a backup if there is a power cut. Furthermore, a portable hotspot could provide faster internet if they are more modern as they would have a stronger network link.
Local SIM card: Your own phone can also act as a portable hotspot. With purchasing a data plan, you can stay connected wherever you go. Additionally, researching network providers beforehand can also be extremely beneficial as some providers work better in rural places than others.
Research in advance: Use your tech skills to research and read reviews on accommodations, internet cafes, and co-working spaces for their internet speed. Do this before settling on a destination and embarking on your digital nomad surfer dream and you will be set!
Balancing Wellbeing Between Surf and Remote Work
Now that you have the tools to optimize your work time, what about your wellbeing? At the end of the day, you’re balancing both in order to make your life as a digital nomad living in a remote surf haven sustainable and healthy.
Top practices to promote wellbeing while travelling and working:
Set boundaries: This is something that everyone, not only digital nomad surfers, should practice for their wellbeing. For remote workers specifically, the freedom of designing your own days can sometimes blur the lines of work and play – making everything feel like both, and causing no breaks from either. This is why discipline with boundaries is key to staying productive, and keeping the fun times free of work stress.
Communicating availability: This comes hand in hand with setting boundaries. Having clear work hours will aid in avoiding last minute work calls or tasks that can disrupt your surf plans – no one wants that!
Learning to say no: Prioritize yourself and your plans. Know when to decline extra work, and vice versa, don’t be afraid to say no to plans when they spill over into scheduled work hours. It’s easy to get completely swept away into the spontaneous life that is surfing and travelling. Practicing saying no, communicating this, and sticking to your boundaries will give you space to be spontaneous without compromising your wellbeing.
Schedule your time OFF: As important as it is to plan your work hours, it is just as essential to schedule days off to allow yourself to FULLY disconnect from work. On these days, you will be able to completely enjoy the life that you’ve chosen to live as a digital surf nomad.
We also recommend reading our article all about self care as a digital nomad surfer before setting off on your adventure!
Adaptability and the Digital Nomad Surfing Lifestyle
Striving for a free and flexible lifestyle requires you to be adaptable in return. Living life as a digital nomad surfer, you will be faced with unexpected challenges such as wave unpredictability and overwhelming workloads. Thus, a flexible and problem-solving mindset are key to dealing with these hiccups.
Account for changes and shift your mindset: You never know when a meeting will go for longer than planned, the Wi-Fi drops, or when the waves aren’t doing what the forecast said they would. Being aware that plans might change is a mindset that all surfers have, and is a useful perspective for remote workers too!
Being ready to adapt to changes will keep you from getting frustrated. The ebb and flow of this lifestyle, the unpredictability and spontaneity of it all, is why you chose to live it in the first place! It’s all part of a package deal- so embrace it!
The Conclusion: Riding the Balance Board of Life
Living as a digital nomad surfer is about finding harmony between two passions. With the right planning, tools, and mindset, you can no doubt successfully navigate the currents of work and surf, and live the life you’ve dreamt of having. Embracing the journey and retaining mindfulness will get you there, and much like surfing, don’t forget to enjoy the ride!
Head here for our full directory of surfing and remote work tips, designed to empower you with knowledge the unique challenges of being a digital nomad surfer.
